Interviews

1. Nickname

2. Kibei schoolchildren in Hiroshima, Japan

3. Feelings of loyalty to America while in Japan

4. Treatment of Kibei after return to United States

5. Keian employment agencies

6. Difficulties understanding different Japanese dialects

7. Mixed emotions after declaration of war on Japan

8. Finding work in the assembly center

9. Living conditions in the Santa Anita Assembly Center

10. Train ride to Jerome Relocation Center

11. Atmosphere in his Merrill’s Marauders unit when surrounded by Japanese soldiers

12. Finding his relative among Japanese prisoners

Roy H. Matsumoto

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

Atmosphere in his Merrill’s Marauders unit when surrounded by Japanese soldiers

They think well, we been talkin' and some people askin', How long this gonna be, last? And what gonna happen? And when gonna, 3rd Battalion gonna come rescue us, and those were things, then some pray, and I knew that, realize that no atheist in the combat, 'cause everybody prayed, see. And I prayed ABC, that is Allah, Buddha and Christ, I prayed everything, see, they hope that survive. And lotta Catholic in there, they use the hand motions and crying. And some people don't say anything and some go, well, crazy 'cause they're so scared and anxiety and everything else.

Merrill’s Marauders U.S. Army 5307th Composite unit (provisional) World War II

Date: Dec 17, 2003

Location: Washington, US

Interviewer: Alice Ito, Tom Ikeda

Contributed by: Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.

Interviewee Bio

Hiroshi Roy Matsumoto was born on May 1, 1913 in Laguna, CA, a rural area on the outskirts of Los Angeles. His family was from the Hiroshima prefecture in Japan. As a young child, he went to Japan to live with his grandparents where he attended elementary and middle school.

Upon his return to the United States, he worked a variety of jobs, while also graduating from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. During World War II, he was sent to the Santa Anita Assembly Center. From there, he was sent to the Jerome Relocation Center in Arkansas where he stayed for six months before volunteering for the Military Intelligence Service.

Mr. Matsumoto was in the first MIS class at Camp Savage. For his heroism as a member of Merrill's Marauders, he was later awarded the Legion of Merit and inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame. (December 18, 2003)

Explore More Videos

Interviewee

Tag

Keywords

Interview language

Shizuko Kadoguchi

Choice to move east or go to Japan

(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto

Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig

Feeling imprisoned at camp

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig

Institutionalization as a bad aspect of camp

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig

State Department records show concern for treatment of Japanese American internees

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

Francis Y. Sogi

Remembering December 7, 1941

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Francis Y. Sogi

Awareness of concentration camps as a Japanese American

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Fred Korematsu

Manhunt

(1919 - 2005) Challenged the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066.

Fred Korematsu

The Final Verdict

(1919 - 2005) Challenged the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066.

Mako Nakagawa

A child's memories of activities at Crystal City, Texas

(1937 - 2021) Teacher

Mako Nakagawa

Search of family home by the FBI following the bombing of Pearl Harbor

(1937 - 2021) Teacher

Mako Nakagawa

Not recognizing father after reunion at Crystal City, Texas

(1937 - 2021) Teacher

Jimmy Ko Fukuhara

Hearing about Pearl Harbor

(b. 1921) Nisei veteran who served in the occupation of Japan

Jimmy Ko Fukuhara

Traveling to Manzanar

(b. 1921) Nisei veteran who served in the occupation of Japan

Margaret Oda

Victory Corps Work during World War II

(1925 - 2018) Nisei educator from Hawai‘i

Jimmy Ko Fukuhara

Jobs in Manzanar

(b. 1921) Nisei veteran who served in the occupation of Japan

Discover Nikkei Updates

NIMA VOICES

Episode 19
Guest host Tamlyn Tomita chatted with actor Christopher Sean in the latest episode of Nima Voices about his background, acting, and community involvement.
WATCH NOW!

VIRTUAL PROGRAM

Nikkei Uncovered V: a poetry reading
Tuesday, December 9
Hosted by traci kato-kiriyama. Featuring Aaron Caycedo-Kimura, Erica Isomura, and Syd Westley

SUPPORT THE PROJECT

Discover Nikkei’s 20 for 20 campaign celebrates our first 20 years and jumpstarts our next 20. Learn more and donate!

Interviews

Watch more clips

Roy H. Matsumoto

Atmosphere in his Merrill’s Marauders unit when surrounded by Japanese soldiers

Explore More Videos

Discover Nikkei Updates